Cuticle knife with storage means for hand lotion

ABSTRACT

A cuticle knife holder for cutting cuticle from portions of human fingers. The knife is spring loaded and is supported by a reservoir containing a hand lotion. A small quantity of the lotion may be released from the reservoir by pressing on the knife blade.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,924,646

LaMura 5] Dec. 9, 1975 CUTICLE KNIFE WITH STORAGE MEANS 3,351,074 11/1967 Astoix 132/79 R FOR HAND LOTION [76] Inventor: Joseph LaMui-a, 102 Dorsa Ave.,

Livingston, NJ. 07039 [22] Filed: Feb. 24, 1975 [21] Appl. No.: 552,179

Prirrmry ExaminerG. E. McNeill [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl 132/79 R A cuticle knife holder for cutting cuticle from portions [51] Int. Cl. A45D 40/00 of human fingers. The knife is spring loaded and is [58] Field of Search 132/79 R, 88.5, 88.7, 73 supported by a reservoir containing a hand lotion. A small quantity of the lotion may be released from the [56] References Cited reservoir by pressing on the knife blade.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,615,453 10/1952 Ohman 132/73 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures i I2 Q 1 i b m 15 14 '0 t 3. 2 'f-i-f M Z/ZG f Qffil 24 -g Z 4 '14 US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 FIG.5

FIG. 6

CUTICLE KNIFE WITH STORAGE MEANS FOR HAND LOTION I BACKGROUND'OF THE INVENTION Cuticle knives'of various types have been available for some time. Generally the knife is connected to a convenient handle for 'manual' operation and is used only to cut away cuticle "around the-finger nails. The user of cuticle knives generally performs 'some'other act of personal hygiene before or after cuticle cutting and the storagemeans associated with the knife provides one of these functions. Ahand lotion o rother useful fluid is available and can be produced quickly and easily by pressing on the knife end to open the lower valve. y w

One of the features of the present invention istheuse of a knife handle to'store a hand lotion. Another feature of the invention is the manner in which the hand lotion is released whenever it is wanted. Still another feature resides in the screw cap which seals both the knife and the exit valve for delivering the hand lotion.

SUMMARY The invention comprises a cuticleknife with storage means for holding a quantity of hand lotion. The handle of the knife is hollow and is closed at one end. A hollow knife support of generally cylindrical shape is fitted into the other end of the handle for. normally closing the other end. A splined piston is longitudinally mounted in the hollow portion of the knife support and includes a conical end portion which fits into a first constricted surface of the knife support for forming a first valve. This valve is adapted to be opened when the knife is depressed a small amount. The knife blade is secured to the outer end of the splined piston and protrudes therefrom for use as a cutting tool. A resilient expansion spring is also positioned within the hollow knife support and engages the inner end of the splined piston and' a second constriction surface in the hollow portion of the knife holder. This spring urges the piston against the first constriction surface and closes the first valve. A second valve is positioned in the hollow knife holder and inclodes a spherical ball normally resting against a third constriction surface in the hollow portion and is adapted to cut off flow of a liquid within the hollow holder when the handle is inverted. An axial rod is secured to the inner end of the splined portion and extends to a position adjacent to the second valve for opening it whenever the knife is depressed an additional distance.

Additional details of the invention will be disclosed in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a side view of the cuticle knife and storage means with parts in section showing all the interior components.

FIG. 2 is a side view, similar to FIG. 1, but with the cap removed and the knife in inverted position, ready for action.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the knife holder before assembly. I

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the storage means taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of the knife holder and splined piston and is taken along line 5- -5 of FIG. 2 l

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED I EMBODIMENT Referring ow to the figures, the invention includes a reservoir 10, preferrably made of glass, holding a quantityof hand lotion 11. This reservoir is used as a handle when operating the knife 12. The reservoir 10 is provided with a flat base 13 so that the device may normally be stored in the upright position shown in FIG. 1. The reservoir 10 is also provided with a hollow neck 14 to which a cap 15 may be screwed when the device is not in use. I

A knife support 16, preferrably made of semi-flexible plastic, is positioned in the hollow neck 14 and provides a basis for the knife 12. The support 16 is generally cylindrical and includes a flange 17 which seats on the edge of the neck 14 and is held in place by the annular ridge on the inside of cap 15. A splined piston 18 is mounted in the hollow portion of the knife support and is formed with at least three splines 20 (FIG. 5) to allow liquid from the reservoir 10 to flow past the piston 18 and out through a first valve 21 formed by a first constriction surface l6A-and a conical surface on the outer end of the piston 18. The knife 12 is attached to the outer end of the piston 18 and, if both are made of hard plastic, the knife 12 and the splined piston 18 maybe made in a single piece. In order to keep the knife 12 from turning during a cutting operation, a channel 22 is formed in the support 16 (FIG. 5) for receiving one of the splined ridges.

The knife support 18 is resiliently urged against the first constriction surface 16A in the knife support 16 by a helical spring 23, the other end of which limits against a second constriction 16B inthe knife holder 16. The spring 23 holds; the knife 12 in operating position and also closes the first liquid valve at the outer end of the knife holder.

A second valve is formed within the hollow portion of the knife holder 16 by a spherical ball 24, resting on a third constriction surface 16C when the handle 10 is held in a reversed position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6. The second valve prevents excessive liquid from flowing through the knife holder when the knife is displaced. The second valve is opened by a rod 25 secured to the inner end of the splined piston 18 and extending axially to a position adjacent to the ball 24. A fourth constricted surface 16D is formed at the inner end of the knife holder 16 to keep the ball from moving out of the holder when the reservoir is in its normal resting position as shown in FIG. 1. Small apertures 26 may be cut in the sides of the knife holder 16 to permit the lotion 11 to flow into and out of the hollow portion when the ball 24 moves its position.

The operation of the device is as follows: The cap 15 is unscrewed from the neck 14 and the reservoir 10 is inverted. The knife 12 may now be used to cut cuticle from the finger nails without disturbing the other components. When the holder was inverted, a small amount of the lotion 11 within the knife holder 16 passes through the holder and is retained in the splined area above the first- -vfalve. This lotion may be released by pressure on the knife 12 to move the splined piston 18 a short distance upward and to open the front valve. This condition is shown in FIG. 6. Scvcral drops of the lotion 11 move through the valve and may be used by the operator. During this phase. the second valve is not opened because the rod 25 is not moved far enough to dislodge the ball 24 and open the second valve.

When all the lotion within the spline and spring space has been used, this space may be again filled by opening the second valve and permitting lotion to flow past the ball 24 into the spline space. This is done by moving the knife a greater distance so that the end of the rod 25 dislodges the ball 24.

After using, the reservoir is again turned to its normal storage position, and the cap 15 is screwed on. in this condition all components of the device are protected from the outside space and evaporation of the lotion is prevented.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A cuticle knife with storage means for hand lotion comprising: t

a. a hollow handle closed at one end for storing hand lotion;

b. a hollow knife support of generally hollow cylindrical shape fitted into the other end of the handle for normally closing the other end; i

c. a splined piston longitudinally mounted in the hollow portion of the knife support and including a conical end portion fitting into a first constricted surface of the knife support for forming a first valve, said valve adapted to be opened when the knife is depressed a small distance;

d. a knife blade secured to the outer end of the splined' piston protruding therefrom for a cutting operation; a

e. a resilient expansion spring also positioned within the hollow knife support engaging the inner end of the splined piston and a second constriction surfaccin the hollow portion of the knife holder for normally closing the first valve;

f. .a second valve positioned in the hollow knife holder including a spherical ball resting against a third constriction surface in the hollow portion and adaptedto cut off flow ofa liquid within the hollow holder when the handle is inverted; and,

g. an axial rod secured to the inner end of the splined piston and extending to a position adjacent to the second valve for opening the second valve when the knife is depressed an additional distance.

2 A knife as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hollow knife support is made of deformable plastic such as polyethylene.

3. A knife as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hollow knife support is formed with an outwardly extending annular flange for limiting against the outer edge of the other end of the storage means.-

4. A knife as claimed in claim 1 wherein a cap is provided for protecting the knife when not in use.

5."A knife as claimed in claim I wherein the splined piston and the knife are molded as one piece and made of plastic.

6. A knife as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axial rod and the splined piston are molded as one piece.

7. A knife'as claimed in claim 1 wherein the knife holder is formed with a longitudinal channel for guiding the splined piston and for keeping it from turning. 

1. A cuticle knife with storage means for hand lotion comprising: a. a hollow handle closed at one end for storing hand lotion; b. a hollow knife support of generally hollow cylindrical shape fitted into the other end of the handle for normally closing the other end; c. a splined piston longitudinally mounted in the hollow portion of the knife support and including a conical end portion fitting into a first constricted surface of the knife support for forming a first valve, said valve adapted to be opened when the knife is depressed a small distance; d. a knife blade secured to the outer end of the splined piston protruding therefrom for a cutting operation; e. a resilient expansion spring also positioned within the hollow knife support engaging the inner end of the splined piston and a second constriction surface in the hollow portion of the knife holder for normally closing the first valve; f. a second valve positioned in the hollow knife holder including a spherical ball resting against a third constriction surface in the hollow portion and adapted to cut off flow of a liquid within the hollow holder when the handle is inverted; and, g. an axial rod secured to the inner end of the splined piston and extending to a position adjacent to the second valve for opening the second valve when the knife is depressed an additional distance.
 2. A knife as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hollow knife support is made of deformable plastic such as polyethylene.
 3. A knife as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hollow knife support is formed with an outwardly extending annular flange for limiting against the outer edge of the other end of the storage means.
 4. A knife as claimed in claim 1 wherein a cap is provided for protecting the knife when not in use.
 5. A knife as claimed in claim 1 wherein the splined piston and the knife are molded as one piece and made of plastic.
 6. A knife as claimed in claim 1 wherein the axial rod and the splined piston are molded as one piece.
 7. A knife as claimed in claim 1 wherein the knife holder is formed with a longitudinal channel for guiding the splined piston and for keeping it from turning. 